LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is to invest in several
anaerobic digestion plants as it seeks to cut emissions of
greenhouse gas methane and boost renewable energy production,
Farm Minister Hilary Benn said on Monday.

Benn said the government would invest about 10 million
pounds ($19.50 million) to help build several commercial-scale
anaerobic digestion demonstration plants.

Agriculture emits about 7 percent of Britain's greenhouse
gases and an industry report last year suggested that anaerobic
digesters could cut UK methane emissions from dairy, cattle and
fattening pig enterprises by up to 75 percent.

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"Anaerobic digestion has a lot of potential, not least
because it will help us meet three of our needs at the same
time," Benn said, noting it produced renewable energy, reduced
emissions of greenhouse gas methane and helped to divert
organic waste from landfill.

Germany builds around 1,000 digesters a year and leads the
world in the technology with Britain trailing far behind.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks told the conference that
proposals to build anaerobic digestion plants would receive
"the top level of support" under proposed reforms to the
government's renewable energy policy.

"Farmers have a vital role to play in the UK in meeting our
climate change targets and increasing our energy security,"
Wicks said.